Zoom lens system

Abstract

A zoom lens system is disclosed that includes a front first lens group including a first lens of divergent meniscus and a second lens of plano-convex; an intermediate second lens group including a third lens of plano-concave, a fourth lens of plano-concave, and a fifth lens of plano-convex; and a rear third lens group including a sixth lens of double-convex, a seventh lens of double-convex, an eighth lens of plano-concave, and a ninth lens of plano-concave. The sixth and ninth lenses are non-spherical lenses formed of a plastic material, and the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions (a) 0.16<f_w/f₁<0.21 (b) −0.78<f_w/f₂<−0.64 (c) 0.70<f_w/f₃<0.75 (d) 0.47<log Z₃/log Z<0.76.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a zoom lens system for a compact video camera, an electronic still camera, etc. and more particularly to such a zoom lens system having a first lens group of positive diopter, a second lens group of negative diopter, and a third lens group of positive diopter.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, compact zoom lens systems as the most important component for a compact video camera, an electronic still camera, etc. are developed and commercially available. A compact zoom lens has the benefits of decreasing weight and greatly reducing cost. As a result, for example, the size, weight, and unit price of a compact video camera are decreased greatly.

A typical zoom lens system has a first lens group of positive diopter, a second lens group of negative diopter, and a third lens group of positive diopter. Position of the first lens group of positive diopter is fixed during zooming and focusing. To the contrary, the second and third lens group of diopters are changed along an optical axis.

There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,268,793, 5,627682, and 5,543,969) for zoom lens systems. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,969, OAL/IMA of the zoom lens (i.e., ratio of total track of zoom system to image sensor size) is about 22. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,682, OAL/IMA is about 21. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,793, OAL/IMA is higher than 26. It is known that the diameter of zoom lens is mainly determined by image sensor size and zoom ratio. Thus, the smaller of OAL/IMA (i.e., ratio of total track of zoom system to image sensor size) the better of the image quality will be. However, each of the above patents is not desirable due to its high such ratio. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a zoom lens system having advantages of high zoom ratio and being compact.

In one aspect of the invention the lenses of comprised of non-spherical ones made of a plastic material, and glass ones so as to reduce the manufacturing cost and facilitate assembly.

To achieve the above and other objects, the invention provides a zoom lens system comprising:

a front first lens group including a first lens of divergent meniscus and a second lens of plano-convex;

an intermediate second lens group including a third lens of plano-concave, a fourth lens of plano-concave, and a fifth lens of plano-convex; and

a rear third lens group including a sixth lens of double-convex, a seventh lens of double-convex, an eighth lens of plano-concave, and a ninth lens of plano-concave,

wherein the sixth and ninth lenses are non-spherical lenses formed of a plastic material, and the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions (a)-(d):
0.16<f_w/f₁<0.21  (a)
−0.78<f_w/f₂<−0.64  (b)
0.70<f_w/f₃<0.75  (c)
0.47<log Z₃/log Z<0.76  (d)
where
f_w is a focal length of the overall system at a wide angle end,
f₁ is a focal length of the first lens group,
f₂ is a focal length of the second lens group,
f₃ is a focal length of the third lens group,
Z is the change ratio of magnification of the overall system,
Z₃ is a change ratio (Z₃=m3t/m3w) of magnification of the third lens group,
m3t is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a telescopic end, and
m3w is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a wide angle end.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts in section of locations of all lenses of a zoom lens system according to the invention;

FIG. 2A schematically depicts in section of locations of the lenses of FIG. 1 at the wide angle end according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the first preferred embodiment at the wide angle end respectively;

FIG. 2C plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the first preferred embodiment at the intermediate focal length respectively;

FIG. 2D plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the first preferred embodiment at the narrow angle end respectively;

FIG. 3A schematically depicts in section of locations of the lenses of FIG. 1 at the wide angle end according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the second preferred embodiment at the wide angle end respectively;

FIG. 3C plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the second preferred embodiment at the intermediate focal length respectively;

FIG. 3D plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the second preferred embodiment at the narrow angle end respectively;

FIG. 4A schematically depicts in section of locations of the lenses of FIG. 1 at the wide angle end according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4B plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the third preferred embodiment at the wide angle end respectively;

FIG. 4C plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the third preferred embodiment at the intermediate focal length respectively;

FIG. 4D plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the third preferred embodiment at the narrow angle end respectively;

FIG. 5A schematically depicts in section of locations of the lenses of FIG. 1 at the wide angle end according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5B plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the fourth preferred embodiment at the wide angle end respectively;

FIG. 5C plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the fourth preferred embodiment at the intermediate focal length respectively;

FIG. 5D plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the fourth preferred embodiment at the narrow angle end respectively;

FIG. 6A schematically depicts in section of locations of the lenses of FIG. 1 at the wide angle end according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6B plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the fifth preferred embodiment at the wide angle end respectively;

FIG. 6C plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the fifth preferred embodiment at the intermediate focal length respectively; and

FIG. 6D plots curves of longitudinal spherical aberration versus focal length, astigmatic field curves versus focal length, and a curve of distortion versus focal length according to the fifth preferred embodiment at the narrow angle end respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a zoom lens system in accordance with the invention is shown. The zoom lens system comprises 9 lenses divided into a front first lens group G1, an intermediate second lens group G2, and a rear third lens group G3. The first lens group G1 is of positive diopter, the second lens group G2 is of negative diopter, and the third lens group G3 is of positive diopter. Position of the first lens group G1 of positive diopter is fixed during zooming and focusing. The second lens group G2 that is moved along the optical axis to correct any shift in the focal position due to zooming. The third lens group G3 that is moved for zooming along the optical axis. The first lens group G1 comprises a first lens L1 of divergent meniscus and a second lens L2 of plano-convex. The second lens group G2 comprises a third lens L3 of plano-concave, a fourth lens L4 of plano-concave, and a fifth lens L5 of plano-convex. The third lens group G3 comprises a sixth lens L6 of double-convex, a seventh lens L7 of double-convex, an eighth lens L8 of plano-concave, and a ninth lens L9 of plano-concave.

Preferably, the sixth and the ninth lenses L6, L9 are non-spherical lenses formed of a plastic material. The remaining lenses are conventional glass lenses so as to reduce the production cost. The invention can be made compact and has improved image quality because the non-spherical lenses (particularly the ninth lens L9) can greatly decrease aberration beyond the optical axis. Lenses are designated by reference numerals L1 to L9 and distances of the lenses with respect to a reference point along the optical axis are designated by reference numerals d1 to d19. Preferably, the fifth and sixth lenses are formed as a single lens by applying adhesive therebetween. Hence, there is no distance between the fifth and sixth lenses so as to facilitate assembly.

The zoom lens system of the invention satisfies the following conditions:
0.16<f_w/f₁<0.21  (a)
−0.78<f_w/f₂<−0.64  (b)
0.70<f_w/f₃<0.75  (c)
0.47<log Z₃/log Z<0.76  (d)

where

f_w is a focal length of the overall system at a wide angle end,

f₁ is a focal length of the first lens group,

f₂ is a focal length of the second lens group,

f₃ is a focal length of the third lens group,

Z is the change ratio of magnification of the overall system,

Z₃ is a change ratio (Z₃=m3t/m3w) of magnification of the third lens group,

m3t is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a telescopic end, and

m3w is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a wide angle end.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2D, a zoom lens system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. FIG. 2A is similar to FIG. 1 except minor changes in the shapes and distances of the non-spherical lenses and numerals d1 to d19 are eliminated. The exceptions are also applied to second to fifth preferred embodiments of the invention as detailed later.

Initial optical data of the first embodiment is Fno=1:3.22-6.84, f=6.60-32.34, and w=30.6°-6.8°

where Fno is the diameter of aperture at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, f is the focal length of the overall system at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, and w is half view angle at the wide angle end or the narrow angle end. Specific numerical examples are shown in the following Table I in which r is the radius of curvature, n is the refractive index, and v is Abbe number which represents a value of chromatic aberration of a material, and v is inversely proportional to the value of chromatic aberration.

TABLE 1
Surface	r	d	n	v
1	24.892	1.00	1.84666	23.8
2	14.249	4.38	1.73550	45.5
3	248.792	d3
4	175.679	1.00	1.74563	41.0
5	6.628	2.97
6	−54.047	1.00	1.64490	55.9
7	16.466	0.10
8	11.028	2.37	1.84666	23.8
9	47.662	d9
STO	INFINITY	0.30
11	A(1)	1.89	1.52540	56.3
12	A(2)	0.10
13	10.709	2.04	1.49348	69.7
14	−9.321	1.00	1.75404	28.7
15	41.150	8.64
16	A(3)	1.00	1.52540	56.3
17	A(4)	d17
>18	INFINITY	0.85	1.51680	64.2
19	INFINITY	0.50
IMG	INFINITY	0.00

Among the lens group, the eleventh, the twelfth, the sixteenth, and the seventeenth lenses are non-spherical lens and data of the non-spherical coefficient is detailed below.

ASPHERIC	CURV	K	A	B	C	D
A(1)	0.10869565	1.879500	−5.47316E−04	−3.22636E−05	1.47530E−06	−2.22694E−07
A(2)	−0.05852651	19.382921	2.48007E−04	1.09731E−05	−9.27014E−07	5.70812E−08
A(3)	0.02866884	30.000000	−1.33283E−02	9.11725E−04	−1.12843E−04	4.89892E−06
A(4)	0.12612779	−30.000000	−6.57065E−03	2.83006E−04	−2.44049E−05	1.00207E−06

Variables d3, d9, and d17 have the following data when the focal length changes:

	Z1	Z2	Z3
	Fno	3.22	4.80	6.84
	f	6.60	19.80	32.34
	w	30.6	11.1	6.8
	d3	0.75	10.32	9.63
	d9	19.15	5.85	1.22
	d17	0.95	4.66	10.00

Changes of the non-spherical lens along radius can be expressed in the following equation:

$Z=\frac{\left(\mathrm{curv}\right)Y^2}{1+\left(1-\left(1+K\right){\left(\mathrm{curv}\right)}^2{Y}^2\right)}+\left(A\right)Y^4+\left(B\right)Y^6+\left(C\right)Y^8+\left(D\right)Y^{10}$
where Z is the amount of sag, curv is the radius of curvature, K is the second curvature constant, Y is the height of the lens with respect to the optical axis, A is fourth non-spherical coefficient, B is sixth non-spherical coefficient, C is eighth non-spherical coefficient, and D is tenth non-spherical coefficient.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3D, a zoom lens system in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Initial optical data of the second embodiment is Fno=1.3.30-6.61, f=6.80-33.32, and w=29.8°-6.6° where Fno is the diameter of aperture at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, f is the focal length of the overall system at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, and w is half view angle at the wide angle end or the narrow angle end. Specific numerical examples are shown in the following Table 2 in which r is the radius of curvature, d is an axial distance between any two lenses, n is the refractive index, and v is Abbe number.

TABLE 2
Surface	r	d	n	v
1	21.538	1.00	1.84666	23.8
2	12.764	4.87	1.71105	46.7
3	495.195	d3
4	−10714.264	1.00	1.74397	44.9
5	6.593	2.98
6	−23.621	1.00	1.64283	56.2
7	23.894	0.10
8	12.647	2.19	1.84666	23.8
9	87.764	d9
STO	INFINITY	0.30
11	A(1)	2.09	1.49176	57.5
12	A(2)	0.10
13	10.430	2.22	1.50434	68.6
14	−9.786	1.07	1.75450	28.2
15	41.153	8.65
16	A(3)	1.28	1.52540	56.3
17	A(4)	d17
>18	INFINITY	0.85	1.51680	64.2
19	INFINITY	0.50
IMG	INFINITY	0.00

Among the lens group, the eleventh, the twelfth, the sixteenth, and the seventeenth lenses are non-spherical lens and data of the non-spherical coefficient is detailed below.

ASPHERIC	CURV	K	A	B	C	D
A(1)	0.10869565	1.874293	−5.35248E−04	−3.48059E−05	1.88700E−06	−1.95216E−07
A(2)	−0.05987199	16.548338	2.42914E−04	9.52049E−06	−1.16017E−06	6.67097E−08
A(3)	0.03225878	−30.000000	−1.06596E−02	6.38886E−04	−7.21983E−05	1.93232E−06
A(4)	0.12247190	−30.000000	−5.21235E−03	2.21202E−04	−2.07952E−05	6.37336E−07

Variables d3, d9, and d17 have the following data when the focal length changes:

	Z1	Z2	Z3
	Fno	3.30	4.71	6.61
	f	6.80	20.40	33.32
	w	29.8	10.8	6.6
	d3	0.76	9.76	11.04
	d9	18.10	5.88	1.20
	d17	0.95	4.17	7.57

THIRD EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4D, a zoom lens system in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Initial optical data of the third embodiment is Fno=1:3.30-6.60, f=7.10-34.81, and w=28.8°-6.3° where Fno is the diameter of aperture at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, f is the focal length of the overall system at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, and w is half view angle at the wide angle end or the narrow angle end. Specific numerical examples are shown in the following Table 3 in which r is the radius of curvature, d is an axial distance between any two lenses, n is the refractive index, and v is Abbe number.

TABLE 3
Surface	r	d	n	v
1	20.671	1.00	1.84666	23.8
2	12.062	5.22	1.70187	44.9
3	516.846	d3
4	−947.313	1.00	1.74397	44.9
5	6.560	2.76
6	−43.364	1.00	1.63364	57.8
7	17.647	0.10
8	10.884	2.21	1.84666	23.8
9	39.017	d9
STO	INFINITY	0.30
11	A(1)	1.92	149176	57.5
12	A(2)	0.10
13	10.987	2.05	1.51840	67.3
14	−9.880	1.40	1.75453	28.2
15	47.249	8.56
16	A(3)	1.29	1.52540	56.3
17	A(4)	d17
18	INFINITY	0.85	1.51680	64.2
19	INFINITY	0.50
IMG	INFINITY	0.00

Among the lens group, the eleventh, the twelfth, the sixteenth, and the seventeenth lenses are non-spherical lens and data of the non-spherical coefficient is detailed below.

ASPHERIC	CURV	K	A	B	C	D
A(1)	0.10869565	1.857295	−5.59639E−04	−2.86672E−05	1.37482E−06	−2.11806E−07
A(2)	−0.05921250	18.875743	2.79820E−04	1.15734E−05	−3.97808E−07	2.64222E−08
A(3)	−0.01976349	30.000000	−8.91164E−03	3.17514E−04	−3.98404E−05	1.09943E−06
A(4)	0.07112851	−30.000000	−6.83788E−03	4.02008E−04	−2.88249E−05	8.59032E−07

Variables d3, d9, and d17 have the following data when the focal length changes:

	Z1	Z2	Z3
	Fno	3.30	4.72	6.60
	f	7.10	21.30	34.81
	w	28.8	10.3	6.3
	d3	0.75	9.63	11.55
	d9	18.01	5.94	1.23
	d17	0.98	4.18	6.97

FOURTH EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 5A to 5D, a zoom lens system in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Initial optical data of the fourth embodiment is Fno=1:3.39-6.18, f=7.19-35.22, and w=28.5°-6.3°

where Fno is the diameter of aperture at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, f is the focal length of the overall system at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, and w is half view angle at the wide angle end or the narrow angle end. Specific numerical examples are shown in the following Table 4 in which r is the radius of curvature, d is an axial distance between any two lenses, n is the refractive index, and v is Abbe number.

TABLE 4
Surface	r	d	n	v
1	20.610	1.00	1.84666	23.8
2	12.004	5.22	1.71287	44.9
3	279.417	d3
4	730.209	1.00	1.74397	44.9
5	6.503	2.77
6	−46.659	1.00	1.62041	60.3
7	17.598	0.10
8	10.781	2.18	1.84666	23.8
9	34.248	d9
STO	INFINITY	0.30
11	A(1)	1.93	1.52540	56.3
12	A(2)	0.10
13	11.581	2.07	1.48775	70.4
14	−8.832	1.00	1.75347	29.3
15	57.678	9.02
16	A(3)	1.00	1.49176	57.5
17	A(4)	d17
18	INFINITY	0.85	1.51680	64.2
19	INFINITY	0.50
IMG	INFINITY	0.00

Among the lens group, the eleventh, the twelfth, the sixteenth, and the seventeenth lenses are non-spherical lens and data of the non-spherical coefficient is detailed below.

ASPHERIC	CURV	K	A	B	C	D
A(1)	0.10869565	1.975102	−5.14302E−04	−3.07216E−05	1.64136E−06	−1.91392E−07
A(2)	−0.05992989	17.716451	3.10521E−04	7.53220E−06	−4.28481E−08	3.08183E−08
A(3)	0.03536325	−30.000000	−1.19504E−02	7.49142E−04	−8.45482E−05	3.10666E−06
A(4)	0.12509786	−30.000000	−5.85217E−03	2.07040E−04	−1.75321E−05	6.38864E−07

Variables d3, d9, and d17 have the following data when the focal length changes:

	Z1	Z2	Z3
	Fno	3.39	4.66	6.18
	f	7.19	21.56	35.22
	w	28.5	10.2	6.3
	d3	0.75	9.66	11.62
	d9	18.13	6.01	1.26
	d17	1.09	4.30	7.09

FIFTH EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6D, a zoom lens system in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Initial optical data of the sixth embodiment is Fno=1:3.184.63, f=7.10-34.79, and w=28.8°-6.3° where Fno is the diameter of aperture at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, f is the focal length of the overall system at the wide angle end or at the narrow angle end, and w is half view angle at the wide angle end or the narrow angle end. Specific numerical examples are shown in the following Table 5 in which r is the radius of curvature, d is an axial distance between any two lenses, n is the refractive index, and v is Abbe number.

TABLE 5
Surface	r	d	n	v
1	21.877	1.00	1.84666	23.8
2	11.571	5.59	1.72626	42.6
3	−958.916	d3
4	3284.466	1.00	1.74397	44.9
5	6.836	3.06
6	−16.460	1.00	1.66917	52.4
7	44.688	0.10
8	15.899	2.04	1.84666	23.8
9	464.873	d9
STO	INFINITY	0.30
11	A(1)	1.47	1.58547	29.9
12	A(2)	0.10
13	5.417	2.59	1.52476	66.7
14	−8.200	2.62	1.75520	27.6
15	31.484	5.41
16	A(3)	1.54	1.61300	27.0
17	A(4)	d17
18	INFINITY	0.85	1.51680	64.2
19	INFINITY	0.50
IMG	INFINITY	0.00

Among the lens group, the eleventh, the twelfth, the sixteenth, and the seventeenth lenses are non-spherical lens and data of the non-spherical coefficient is detailed below.

ASPHERIC	CURV	K	A	B	C	D
A(1)	0.07478469	10.298625	4.64150E−04	1.60887E−05	1.52370E−06	−1.09050E−07
A(2)	0.00244310	30.000000	1.03386E−03	5.49481E−05	−2.19965E−07	1.58321E−07
A(3)	−0.02910514	0.445263	−8.23758E−03	−2.39212E−04	2.98781E−06	−2.59180E−06
A(4)	0.05176766	−27.880386	−6.27930E−03	1.43123E−04	−9.59131E−06	3.93025E−07

Variables d3, d9, and d17 have the following data when the focal length changes:

	Z1	Z2	Z3
	Fno	3.18	4.15	4.63
	f	7.10	21.30	34.79
	w	28.8	10.3	6.3
	d3	0.75	9.33	12.35
	d9	17.62	5.81	1.20
	d17	2.48	5.71	7.29

Data about the above five embodiments and conditions (a) to (h) are tabulated in Table 6 in which OAL/IMA in each of the above embodiments is less than 12.82 which is greatly less than that obtained in the prior art.

	TABLE 6
		a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
	OAL/IMA	fw/f1	fw/f2	fw/f3	Logz3/log3	n11	v11	n16	v16
Ex1	12.82	0.16	−0.64	0.70	0.76	1.53	56	1.53	56
Ex2	12.82	0.19	−0.72	0.72	0.61	1.49	58	1.53	56
Ex3	12.82	0.20	−0.75	0.75	0.56	1.49	58	1.61	27
Ex4	12.82	0.20	−0.76	0.75	0.55	1.53	56	1.49	58
Ex5	12.82	0.21	−0.78	0.74	0.47	1.59	30	1.61	27

where
OAL/IMA is the ratio of total track of zoom system to image sensor size and the ratio is a reference value of the compactness of zoom system,
f_w is a focal length of the overall system at a wide angle end,
f₁ is a focal length of the first lens group,
f₂ is a focal length of the second lens group,
f₃ is a focal length of the third lens group,
Z is the change ratio of magnification of the overall system,
Z₃ is a change ratio (Z₃=m3t/m3w) of magnification of the third lens group,
m3t is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a telescopic end,
m3w is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a wide angle end,
n11 is the refractive index of the sixth lens L6,
n16 is the refractive index of the ninth lens L9,
v11 is the Abbe number of the sixth lens L6, and
v16 is the Abbe number of the ninth lens L9.

The zoom lens system of the invention further satisfies one or more of the following conditions:
1.49<n11<1.59  (e)
1.49<n16<1.61  (f)
30<v11<58  (g)
27<v16<58  (h)

The zoom lens system of the invention has the following advantages and characteristics: High zoom ratio (e.g., as high as 4.91), OAL/IMA less than 12.82 which is greatly less than that obtained in the prior art, compactness, and lightweight. Moreover, the sixth and the ninth lenses L6, L9 are non-spherical lenses formed of a plastic material. The remaining lenses are conventional glass lenses. The non-spherical lenses can compensate aberration of the zoom lens system. Hence, the production cost is greatly reduced. In addition, the first and second lenses L1, L2 are formed as a single lens by applying adhesive therebetween, and, the seventh and eighth lenses L7, L8 are formed as a single lens by applying adhesive therebetween so as to facilitate assembly.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A zoom lens system comprising:

a front first lens group including a first lens of divergent meniscus and a second lens of plano-convex;

an intermediate second lens group including a third lens of plano-concave, a fourth lens of plano-concave, and a fifth lens of plano-convex; and

a rear third lens group including a sixth lens of double-convex, a seventh lens of double-convex, an eighth lens of plano-concave, and a ninth lens of plano-concave,

wherein the sixth and the ninth lenses are non-spherical lenses formed of a plastic material, and the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions (a)-(d):

0.16<f_w/f₁<0.21  (a)

−0.78<f_w/f₂<−0.64  (b)

0.70<f_w/f₃<0.75  (c)

0.47<log Z₃/log Z<0.76  (d)

where

f_w is a focal length of the overall system at a wide angle end,

f₁ is a focal length of the first lens group,

f₂ is a focal length of the second lens group,

f₃ is a focal length of the third lens group,

Z is the change ratio of magnification of the overall system,

Z₃ is a change ratio (Z₃=m3t/m3w) of magnification of the third lens group,

m3t is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a telescopic end, and

m3w is a lateral magnification of the third lens group at a wide angle end.

2. The zoom lens system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second lenses are formed as a single lens by applying adhesive therebetween.

3. The zoom lens system of claim 1, wherein the seventh and the eighth lenses are formed as a single lens by applying adhesive therebetween.

4. The zoom lens system of claim 1, wherein the zoom lens system satisfies the following condition:

1.49<n11<1.59  (e)

where

n11 is a refractive index of the sixth lens.

5. The zoom lens system of claim 1, wherein the zoom lens system satisfies the following condition:

1.49<n16<1.61  (f)

where

n16 is a refractive index of the ninth lens.

6. The zoom lens system of claim 1, wherein the zoom lens system satisfies the following condition:

30<v11<58  (g)

where

v11 is an Abbe number of the sixth lens.

7. The zoom lens system of claim 1, wherein the zoom lens system satisfies the following condition:

27<v16<58  (h)

where

v16 is an Abbe number of the ninth lens.

8. The zoom lens system of claim 1, wherein the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions:

1.49<n11<1.59

149<n16<1.61

30<v11<58

27<v16<58

where

n11 is a refractive index of the sixth lens,

n16 is a refractive index of the ninth lens,

v11 is an Abbe number of the sixth lens, and

v16 is an Abbe number of the ninth lens.